sheephead

[ sheep-hed ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) sheep·head, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) sheep·heads.

1. a large California food fish, Semicossyphus pulcher, of the wrasse family.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheephead¹

First recorded in 1535–45; so called from the resemblance of its teeth to those of a sheep

Example Sentences

They are capital bait—the best we have, unless we want to catch sheephead; then we use fiddlers.

From Project Gutenberg

They have hard shells that whiting and croakers can't crack, while the sheephead, having good teeth, crush them easily.

From Project Gutenberg